Meter-box top.



T. W. MORRIS.

- METER BOX TOP. APPLIUATION mum we. 4, 1910.

y 986, 1 97, Patented Mar. 7; 1911.

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T. W. MORRIS.

METER Box Tor.

APPLIUATIOH FILED AUG. 4, 1910.

Patented Mar. 7,'1911.

Thomwms.

THOMAS W. .MORRIS, OF HOYKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

ME'EER-BOX 'ror.

. Specification of Letters'latent.

Application tiled Augustv4, 1910. Serial Nd. 575,449.

To all whom it may concern:

-.Be it known thatiI, THOMAS RV. Mortars, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopkinsville, in the county of Christian and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meter-Box Tops, of which the following is a specification.

lhis invention relates to meter boxes, and more particularly to those wherein'the cover can be easily and conveniently removed by a key.

The principal object of the invention is to provide the cover with a locking device in the form of a binding cam ivhich is located adjacent to the edge of the cover, which cam is adapted to draw the cover to its seat with a .pressure proportionate to the force exerted upon the key by which the lock is turned or manipulated.

The invention therefore consists of certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as'will be hereinafter fully described.

in the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the complete inven tion as applied to a. meter box. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the complete cover. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the cam forming the locking device. Fig. 4 is a side View of the cam. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cam. Fig: (1 is a top plan view of the cover.

Referring to the accompanying drawings 1. represents a meter box, which for the greater partma v be of any ordinary or preferred construction the upper edge of which is properly designed in a manner hereinafter to bc' described to properly receive the cover and its accompanying parts. The upper edge of the box 1, is circular and provided with an inwardly projecting annular flange 2 having an upper smooth surface and an under inclined contacting and binding surface 3. The cover'4 is circular in shape and of a size to entirely cover the box 1, whereby when the lock carried by. the cover is properlv manipulated dirt and moisture will be effectively excluded from the box.

Formed in the cover 4 adjacent to the edge thereof is a cylindrical depression or recess 5 and in the lower wall of said depression is on opening {3 which is concentrically arranged in respect to said recess. The keyshaft which l employ in carrying outmy invention is provided with a head 8 which is located within the recess'li with its upper surface flush with the upper surface of the cover 4 thereby offering no obstrt1ction,the medial portion 9 of said key-shaft being -movably located within the opening 6 with the reduced lower'end 10 extending a sufficient distance below said opening providing practical means for rigidly securing the cam 11 to said key-shaft.

The cam 11 which I employ in carrying out my invention is particularly adapted and constructed for the purpose, and is provided with an outer engaging concentric segmental upwardly projecting flange 12, the upper surface of which is inclined in respect to its outer edge so as to-conform with the lower inclined annular surface 3 of a flange 2 of the box 1. The cam 11 is also inclined along thedength of the flange 12 in order'to draw the cover 4 intoa binding and locking position whenthe key-shaft 7 is turned in the .proper direction, the two inclines formed on said flange in opposite directions effectually accomplishing the results required.

Integrally formed with the cover 4 and projecting downwardly therefrom is a lug 13 with which the rear rounded surface 14 of the cam 11 comes in contact when the latter is in a locked position, thereby holding said cam in a horizontal and rigid position in respect to the cover and removing the strain that would be otherwise imparted or exerted upon the key-shaftwhen the cam is in a locked position. cover a and projecting downwardly and outwardly therefrom, and located diametrically opposite the lock is a. lug 15 having an upper inclined surface 16 for engagement with the under surface of the flange 2 of thebox.

In placing the cover on the box the former is tilted or inclined sufiiciently to permit the lug 15 to freely pass under the annular flange 2 of the box permitting the said cover to be dropped'in its proper position, after which a suitable key is applied to the polygonal shaped head 8 of the key shaft 7 for turning the cam-11 in the proper direction to cause the inclined contacting and binding surface 12 of said cam to be brought into contactwith the under surface of the annular flange 8 of the box, the said cam being turned sufficiently to cause the cover 4: to properly clamp and hold said cover in a locked position upon the box.

\Vhat' is claimed is:

1. ln combination with a meter box provided with an inwardly turned annular Also cast with the' Patented Mar. 7, 191 1.

forming the per edge of said box;

and arrangedbelowt e lower surface (if the.

cover, a concentric segmental flange projecting upwardly from said cam and form ng a' part thereof, said cambeing inclined lengthwise and .also beveled transversely for cooperation with the under inclined surface of the flange of the box.

2, The combination with a rneter box and annular'flan forming the upper cd e of said box, sai flange having a lower inclined face, of a cover providedwith a lug the projecting end of which is adapted for'codpera- .tion with the flan e of the box, a lock 10- cat-ed atfth'e opposite end of the cover and consisting of a key-shaft; a cam fixed to the lower end of said shaft and provided with an upwardly turned concentric segmental flange, said flan e being-inclined along its length and bev ed transversely, the'upper surface of the flange thus constructed be ng adapted for cotiperation'with the lower inclined face ofthe flange of the box. v 3, A combination with a meter boxand forming t cu'ted within said recess with its upper sur-" an annular flange forming the upper edge of said box, sai fiange having a lower in clined vface,=of a cover, a lug forming apart of the latter and having an" npper'inclmed face ada ted to cotiperate with the annular flange o the box, the opposite end of the .cover being provided with a recess; a lock comprising a key-shaft, a I

re upper end of sand shaft and lopolygonal 'head face substantially flush with the upper surface of the cover, a central reduced portion forming a part of said shaftand movable within :1- suitable opening formed in-the cov'er,-;a cam fixed to the lower reduced end of the "shaft below the cover and having aconcentric segmental flange projecting upwardly'therefroln, said flange being inclined along its length and having its upper face beveled transversely for cooperation with the under beveled face of the flange of the box, and a lug projecting downwardly from the cover and forming a part thereof'wi'th which the rear rounded edge of the cam is .adapted to come in contact for holding said cam in its proper position and relieving the strain upon the key-shaft. i I In testimony whereof I aifix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses. p THOMAS W. MORRIS. \Vitnesses; J

IRA D. SMITH, d J on MoCARRoLL, Jr. 

